Cattle truck wrecks on Saluda grade

Thursday

Nov 14, 2013 at 4:30 AM

A truck hauling cattle has overturned on I-26 westbound at the top of the Saluda grade.

By Renee Bindewald Times-News staff writer

SALUDA — A tractor-trailer hauling cattle overturned on I-26 west at the top of the Saluda grade Wednesday afternoon, killing two cows and prompting a large and complicated rescue operation. The majority of the animals were not seriously injured, said veterinarian Rachel Butterworth–Tice, who was called to evaluate the animals. She said 65 cows were able to walk out of the tractor-trailer with some injuries, but 10 had catastrophic injuries and were euthanized at the scene. “(The driver) ran off the right side of the road and over-corrected, and this is where we ended up,” Highway Patrol Trooper James Sama said. “When he (over-corrected), the trailer started to turn over and hit the guardrail.”The driver, David Pearley of Jefferson City, Mo., suffered a gash on the back of his head, which Sama said would most likely need stiches, and shoulder pain. Pearly was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Columbus. More than 50 emergency personnel from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Saluda Fire and Rescue, Columbus Police Department, N.C. Highway Patrol and the Polk Large Animal Rescue team responded. The westbound lanes were initially shut down, but one lane was opened while responders established a plan to move the cattle.

Three livestock trailers were brought in to move the cows from the scene. Each trailer had to back in behind the overturned truck, and metal gates were chained between the truck and new trailer to ensure the cattle would make it out safely. Responders cut out metal dividers inside the trailer to get to the animals. Large-animal rescue responders then held tarps to help reduce the amount of light seen by the cattle as they walked between the vehicles. “When they see the daylight, they tend to go in that direction,” Butterworth-Tice said. “Mostly it was the professional cattlemen that were there who moved them out, and they did a good job with that.”The wreck occurred around 1 p.m. and all of the cattle were unloaded by 4:30 p.m. The cattle were being taken to Canton, home of the WNC Regional Livestock Center.“The majority of time was moving new trailers in and cutting out dividers,” Butterworth-Tice said, adding that it was pretty remarkable how many of the cattle were able to walk away from the wreck.